Request for Comments on the Draft Proposed 5-Year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2007-2012 and Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed 5-Year Program, 7064-7068 [06-1307]
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7064
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 2006 / Notices
Frequency: On occasion.
Estimated Number and Description of
Respondents: Approximately 130
Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulphur
lessees.
Estimated Reporting and
Recordkeeping ‘‘Hour’’ Burden: The
currently approved annual reporting
burden for this collection is 56,250
hours for approximately 25,000 wells,
based on:
(1) 1⁄4 hour to locate and copy a
summary of drilling operations (e.g.,
scout tickets) for each well.
(2) 2 hours to retrieve and analyze
each well file and retrieve other missing
data. There are no recordkeeping
requirements.
Estimated Reporting and
Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-Hour Cost’’
Burden: We have identified no cost
burdens for this collection.
Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA
(44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) provides that an
agency may not conduct or sponsor a
collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number. Until OMB approves a
collection of information, you are not
obligated to respond.
Comments: Before submitting an ICR
to OMB, PRA section 3506(c)(2)(A)
requires each agency ‘‘ * * * to provide
notice * * * and otherwise consult
with members of the public and affected
agencies concerning each proposed
collection of information * * *.’’
Agencies must specifically solicit
comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the
proposed collection of information is
necessary for the agency to perform its
duties, including whether the
information is useful; (b) evaluate the
accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of
information; (c) enhance the quality,
usefulness, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d)
minimize the burden on the
respondents, including the use of
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Agencies must also estimate the ‘‘nonhour cost’’ burdens to respondents or
recordkeepers resulting from the
collection of information. Therefore, if
you have costs to generate, maintain,
and disclose this information, you
should comment and provide your total
capital and startup cost components or
annual operation, maintenance, and
purchase of service components. You
should describe the methods you use to
estimate major cost factors, including
system and technology acquisition,
expected useful life of capital
equipment, discount rate(s), and the
period over which you incur costs.
Capital and startup costs include,
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among other items, computers and
software you purchase to prepare for
collecting information, monitoring, and
record storage facilities. You should not
include estimates for equipment or
services purchased: (i) Before October 1,
1995; (ii) to comply with requirements
not associated with the information
collection; (iii) for reasons other than to
provide information or keep records for
the Government; or (iv) as part of
customary and usual business or private
practices.
We will summarize written responses
to this notice and address them in our
submission for OMB approval. As a
result of your comments, we will make
any necessary adjustments to the burden
in our submission to OMB.
Public Comment Procedures: MMS’s
practice is to make comments, including
names and addresses of respondents,
available for public review. If you wish
your name and/or address to be
withheld, you must state this
prominently at the beginning of your
comment. MMS will honor this request
to the extent allowable by law; however,
anonymous comments will not be
considered. All submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from
individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, will be
made available for public inspection in
their entirety.
MMS Information Collection
Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (202)
208–7744.
Dated: January 26, 2006.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E6–1871 Filed 2–9–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Request for Comments on the Draft
Proposed 5-Year Outer Continental
Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing
Program for 2007–2012 and Notice of
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the
Proposed 5-Year Program
SUMMARY: The Minerals Management
Service (MMS) requests comments on
the Draft Proposed 5-year OCS Oil and
Gas Leasing Program for 2007–2012.
This is the first proposal for a new
program to succeed the current program
that expires on June 30, 2007, and forms
the basis for conducting the studies and
analyses the Secretary will consider in
making future decisions on what areas
to include in the program.
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Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act (43
U.S.C. 1344) specifies a multi-step
process of consultation and analysis that
must be completed before the Secretary
of the Interior may approve a new 5-year
program. The required steps following
this notice include the development of
a proposed program, a proposed final
program, and Secretarial approval.
Pursuant to the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA), the MMS also will
prepare an EIS for the new 5-year
program.
DATES: Please submit comments and
information to the MMS no later than
April 11, 2006.
Public Comment Procedure
The MMS will accept comments in
one of two formats: by mail or our
Internet commenting system. Please
submit your comments using only one
of these formats, and include full names
and addresses. Comments submitted by
other means may not be considered. We
will not consider anonymous
comments, and we will make available
for inspection in their entirety all
comments submitted by organizations
and businesses or by individuals
identifying themselves as
representatives of organizations and
businesses.
Our practice is to make comments,
including the names and home
addresses of respondents, available for
public review. An individual
commenter may ask that we withhold
his or her name, home address, or both
from the public record, and we will
honor such a request to the extent
allowable by law. If you submit
comments and wish us to withhold such
information, you must so state
prominently at the beginning of your
submission.
ADDRESSES: Mail comments and
information to: Renee Orr, 5-Year
Program Manager, Minerals
Management Service (MS–4010), Room
3120, 381 Elden Street, Herndon,
Virginia 20170. Please label your
comments and the packaging in which
they are submitted according to the
subject matter. Mark those pertaining to
program preparation, ‘‘Comments on
Draft Proposed 5-Year Program for
2007–2012,’’ and mark those pertaining
to EIS preparation, ‘‘Scoping Comments
on the EIS for the 5-Year Program for
2007–2012.’’ If you submit any
privileged or proprietary information to
be treated as confidential, please mark
the envelope, ‘‘Contains Confidential
Information.’’
Internet: The MMS will accept
comments submitted to our electronic
commenting system. This system can be
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accessed at https://www.mms.gov/5-year/
2007–2012main.htm. We also will
provide access to information
concerning the 5-year program and EIS,
including copies of comments we
receive in response to this notice, at the
MMS Internet website (www.mms.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Renee Orr, 5-Year Program Manager, at
(703) 787–1215.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMS
requests comments from states, local
governments, Native groups, tribes, the
oil and gas industry, federal agencies,
environmental and other interest
organizations, and all other interested
parties to assist in the preparation of a
5-year OCS oil and gas leasing program
for 2007–2012 and the applicable EIS.
The draft proposed program
document may be downloaded off the
MMS website at www.mms.gov. The
document also is available as part of our
electronic commenting system noted
above. Hard copies will be made
available by contacting the 5-Year
Program Office at 703–787–1215.
Background
Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act
requires the Secretary of the Interior to
prepare and maintain a schedule of
proposed OCS oil and gas lease sales
determined to ‘‘best meet national
energy needs for the 5-year period
following its approval or reapproval.’’
This draft proposed program is the first
proposed schedule of OCS lease sales
for the 2007–2012 timeframe. The areas
identified as proposed program areas in
this notice are ones that warrant further
study and analysis based on oil and gas
resource estimates and comments
received in response to the August 24,
2005 Request for Information. Inclusion
of areas in the draft proposed lease sale
schedule provides a basis for gathering
information and conducting analyses to
inform policy makers whether to
include these areas for leasing
consideration in the new 5-year
program. Before the new 5-year program
is approved and implemented, the MMS
must accept and consider comments on
the draft proposed program and issue
for public review a proposed program,
a draft EIS, a proposed final program,
and a final EIS.
rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES1
Summary of the Draft Proposed
Program
In developing the draft proposed
program for 2007–2012, the MMS
considered leasing in the areas of the
OCS that are included in the current 5year program for 2002–2007 and
additional areas off Alaska, the Gulf of
Mexico, and Atlantic coast. Some of
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these areas are currently withdrawn
from disposition by leasing through
June 30, 2012, under section 12 of the
OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1341) and
have been subject to annual
congressional moratoria. There will be
no leasing of such areas unless the
President chooses to modify the
withdrawal and Congress discontinues
the annual statutory moratoria. The
analyses conducted for the proposed
program may provide the information
necessary for a potential modification of
the withdrawal areas. The draft program
proposes sales in offshore areas that
have the highest oil and gas resource
values and highest industry interest or
are off the coasts of states that have
expressed interest in learning more
about potential energy exploration off
their coasts. The proposed schedule is
responsive to the recommendations of
affected state and local governments.
New Planning Area Boundaries
On January 3, 2006, the MMS
published a notice in the Federal
Register announcing the setting of
Federal OCS administrative boundaries
beyond state submerged lands for
planning, coordination, and
administrative purposes. The
Supplementary Information in the
January notice contained a section
entitled ‘‘methodology.’’ Using
equidistance as a method to establish
maritime boundaries, in the absence of
special circumstances or agreement to
the contrary, is consistent with
customary domestic and international
law and conventions. It should also be
noted that, although the three maps
appended to the January 3, 2006 Notice
depicted an extension of the shelf
beyond the U.S. exclusive economic
zone only in the Gulf of Mexico, this did
not suggest that the United States does
not have an extended shelf in other
areas. Further, the depicted limits and
boundaries do not prejudice or affect in
any way United States sovereign rights
or jurisdiction within or seaward of
these limits and boundaries. Some of
the planning area boundaries have been
moved to correspond to the new
administrative lines. The number of
planning areas has not changed; it
remains at 26. See Maps 1 and 2 for the
redrawn planning areas.
Some aspects of this draft proposed
plan use these administrative
boundaries. Congress has recently
considered several legislative proposals
that would establish state seaward
lateral boundaries for OCS revenue
sharing and other purposes. If such
legislation is passed before this plan
becomes final, we would consider
adjustments to the areas offered in this
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7065
5-year plan to reflect the same boundary
lines, if appropriate.
Proposed Lease Sales for Consideration
The draft program proposes a total of
21 OCS lease sales in 7 areas (4 areas off
Alaska, 2 areas in the Gulf of Mexico,
and 1 area in the Atlantic). Maps A and
B show the areas proposed for leasing.
Table A lists the location and timing of
the proposed lease sales in areas that are
available for leasing consideration, i.e.,
not withdrawn or subject to
congressional moratoria. Table B lists
the location and timing of the proposed
lease sales in areas that are withdrawn
and/or subject to moratoria.
Alaska Region
In the Alaska Region, the draft
program proposes multiple lease sales
in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and
North Aleutian Basin Planning Areas,
which are three areas of interest to
Alaska, the MMS, and the oil and gas
industry. Multiple sales are consistent
with the Governor of Alaska’s
recommendations. The North Aleutian
Basin Planning Area is currently
withdrawn by presidential order under
section 12 of the OCS Lands Act. In
response to the August Request for
Information, the Governor of Alaska
stated that ‘‘[t]he borough governments
and regional Native corporations in the
vicinity of the North Aleutian Basin
have all expressed support for including
this area in the next draft of the 2007–
2012 program. During the comment
period on the draft, I hope that public
and industry input will provide the
Secretary and the state with adequate
information to decide whether or not to
ask the President to lift the current
withdrawal and allow a sale during the
2007–2012 program.’’ In order to have
this opportunity, the North Aleutian
Basin is included in this proposal.
The Cook Inlet Planning Area is
included on the schedule for a ‘‘special
interest sale’’ as a potential source of
natural gas for local residents and
businesses. This approach was first used
in the current program for 2002–2007. A
special interest sale is one that may be
held on a date chosen by the Secretary,
after consideration of the comments
received in response to annual calls for
information.
Gulf of Mexico Region
In the Central and Western Gulf of
Mexico Planning Areas, which are the
two areas of highest resource potential
and interest, the draft proposed program
would continue the customary practice
of scheduling annual areawide lease
sales. As a result of the reconfiguration
of some planning areas to follow the
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new administrative lines, some of the
areas formerly in the Eastern and
Western Gulf Planning Areas are now
part of the Central Gulf Planning Area.
As part of this draft proposed program,
there are no lease sales scheduled in the
newly configured Eastern Gulf Planning
Area. Under this proposal, the Central
Gulf of Mexico Planning Area would
include a portion of the area that was
identified for Sale 181 in the 5-year
program for 1997–2002. This portion of
the previous Sale 181 area is proposed
for offering in 2007. The MMS has no
intention of offering for leasing areas
within 100 miles of the Florida coast
that used to be part of the Eastern Gulf
Planning Area. The original Sale 181
area is not under Presidential
withdrawal and is not subject to
congressional moratorium. Subsequent
annual Central Gulf sales may consider
the area to the south of the original Sale
181 area that is currently under
Presidential withdrawal and has been
subject to annual congressional
moratorium, if both of those restrictions
were to be lifted.
rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES1
Atlantic OCS
There are four planning areas in the
Atlantic OCS—North Atlantic, MidAtlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of
Florida. The draft proposed program
proposes a ‘‘special interest sale’’ in the
Mid-Atlantic in late 2011. The area
proposed for consideration is in the
Mid-Atlantic Planning Area off the
coastline of Virginia. In its response to
the August Request for Information,
Virginia expressed a willingness to
continue a dialogue that explores
options regarding the energy resources
off its coastline. Inclusion of this area in
the draft proposed program will provide
additional information to the State, the
public, industry, and other interested
parties about the impacts of exploration
off this coast. This will also provide
further information to the Secretary to
consider whether or not to propose a
‘‘special interest sale’’ in the 2007–2012
program, should the President lift the
current withdrawal and should
Congress discontinue the annual
moratorium. In addition, pursuant to
Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act, no
sale will be proposed until all affected
states have the opportunity to comment.
There have not been any lease sales in
the Atlantic since the early 1980’s. At
this time, there are no active leases.
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TABLE A.—DRAFT PROPOSED PROGRAM
FOR
2007–2012—LEASE
SALE SCHEDULE FOR AVAILABLE
AREAS
Sale no.
Area
204 .........
Western Gulf of Mexico.
Central Gulf of Mexico
(Portion).
Chukchi Sea ..............
Central Gulf of Mexico
Western Gulf of Mexico.
Central Gulf of Mexico
Beaufort Sea ..............
Western Gulf of Mexico.
Cook Inlet ...................
Chukchi Sea ..............
Central Gulf of Mexico
Western Gulf of Mexico.
Central Gulf of Mexico
Beaufort Sea ..............
Western Gulf of Mexico.
Cook Inlet ...................
Chukchi Sea ..............
Central Gulf of Mexico
205 .........
193 .........
206 .........
207 .........
208 .........
209 .........
210 .........
211
212
213
215
.........
.........
.........
.........
216 .........
217 .........
218 .........
219 .........
221 .........
222 .........
Year
2007
2007
2007
2008
2008
2009
2009
2009
2009
2010
2010
2010
2011
2011
2011
2011
2012
2012
requesting comments on preparing the
5-year program for 2007–2012, may
wish to reference that information, as
appropriate, rather than repeating it in
their comments on the draft proposed
program. We also invite comments and
suggestions on how to proceed with the
section 18 analysis for the next draft of
the new program, the proposed
program.
Section 18(g) authorizes confidential
treatment of privileged or proprietary
information that is submitted. In order
to protect the confidentiality of such
information, respondents should
include it as an attachment to other
comments submitted and mark it
appropriately. On request the MMS will
treat such information as confidential
from the time of its receipt until 5 years
after approval of the new leasing
program, subject to the standards of the
Freedom of Information Act. The MMS
will not treat as confidential any
aggregate summaries of such
information, the names of respondents,
and comments not containing such
information.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Preparation
TABLE B.—DRAFT PROPOSED PROIn accordance with section 102(2)(C)
GRAM FOR 2007–2012—POTENTIAL of the NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)),
LEASE SALE SCHEDULE FOR AREAS MMS intends to prepare an EIS for the
SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS*
OCS oil and gas 5-year leasing program
for 2007–2012 as we specified in the
Sale no.
Area
Year
August 2005 notice. As part of the
scoping under NEPA, this notice again
214 ......... North Aleutian Basin ..
2010 solicits information regarding issues and
220 ......... Mid-Atlantic ................
2011
alternatives that should be evaluated in
223 ......... North Aleutian Basin ..
2012
the EIS. Comments submitted in
*Lease sales would only be held if the response to the August notice need not
President chooses to modify the withdrawal in be re-submitted.
both areas and Congress discontinues the anThe EIS will address the potential
nual statutory moratorium off the coast of
impacts of the adoption of the proposed
Virginia.
5-year program. The MMS requests
Assurance of Fair Market Value
respondents to focus comments on
significant environmental issues
Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act
attendant to OCS oil and gas leasing and
requires receipt of fair market value for
development which should be evaluated
OCS oil and gas leases and the rights
in the EIS.
they convey. The draft proposed
Public Scoping Meetings are planned
program provides for setting minimum
bid levels by individual lease sale based for the EIS development. Further
on market conditions and for continuing information will be posted on the 5-year
webpage at www.mms.gov and other
to use a two-phase bid evaluation
public notice. Dates and localities for all
process.
scoping meetings are being determined.
Information Requested for the Draft
For Atlantic scoping, information can be
Proposed Program
obtained from Norman Froomer at 703–
We request all interested and affected 787–1644 or via e-mail at
parties to comment on the size, timing,
Norman.Froomer@mms.gov. For Alaska
and location of leasing and the
scoping, information can be obtained
procedures for assuring fair market
from the Alaska OCS Region at 1–800–
value that are proposed in the Draft
764–2627 or via e-mail at
Proposed 5-Year OCS Oil and Gas
akwebmaster@mms.gov. For Gulf of
Leasing Program for 2007–2012.
Mexico scoping, information can be
Respondents who submitted
obtained from Dennis Chew at 504–736–
information in response to the August
2793 or via e-mail at
24, 2005 Federal Register notice
Dennis.Chew@mms.gov.
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For further information about
preparation of the EIS, contact: James
Bennett, Chief, Branch of Environmental
Assessment at the Minerals
Management Service, 381 Elden Street,
MS 4042, Herndon, Virginia 20170,
telephone (703) 787–1660.
Next Steps in the Process
The MMS plans to issue the proposed
program and draft EIS in mid-summer
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Sfmt 4725
2006 for a 90-day comment period. We
plan to issue the proposed final program
and final EIS in winter 2007. The
Secretary may approve the new 5-year
program 60 days later to go into effect
as of July 1, 2007.
Dated: February 1, 2006.
R.M. Johnnie Burton,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
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We are considering possible
alternatives to the proposed action, such
as offering for lease only those areas
offered during the previous 5-year
program, or excluding areas currently
under congressional moratoria or
presidential withdrawal. We will also
evaluate the No Action alternative as
required by NEPA and its implementing
regulations.
7067
7068
[FR Doc. 06–1307 Filed 2–9–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–C
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
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Boston Harbor Islands Advisory
Council; Notice of Meeting
Notice is hereby given in accordance
with the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (PL 92–463) that the Boston Harbor
Islands Advisory Council will hold its
annual meeting on Wednesday, March
1, 2006. The meeting will convene at 6
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15:10 Feb 09, 2006
Jkt 208001
p.m. at the Boston Children’s Museum,
300 Congress Street, 5th floor, Boston,
MA.
The Advisory Council was appointed
by the Director of the National Park
Service pursuant to Public Law 104–
333. The 28 members represent
business, educational/cultural,
community and environmental entities;
municipalities surrounding Boston
Harbor; Boston Harbor advocates; and
Native American interests. The purpose
of the Council is to advise and make
recommendations to the Boston Harbor
Islands Partnership with respect to the
development and implementation of a
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management plan and the operations of
the Boston Harbor Islands national park
area.
The Agenda for this meeting is as
follows:
1. Call to Order, Introductions of
Advisory Council members present.
2. Review and Approval of Minutes
from the December 7, 2005 meeting.
3. Guest Speaker, George Price,
Superintendent, Cape Cod National
Seashore.
4. Update on Strategic Plan Review.
5. Report from the Partnership Office.
6. Nominations for Advisory Council
members.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 28 (Friday, February 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7064-7068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1307]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Request for Comments on the Draft Proposed 5-Year Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2007-2012 and
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for
the Proposed 5-Year Program
SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) requests comments on the
Draft Proposed 5-year OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2007-2012.
This is the first proposal for a new program to succeed the current
program that expires on June 30, 2007, and forms the basis for
conducting the studies and analyses the Secretary will consider in
making future decisions on what areas to include in the program.
Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344) specifies a multi-
step process of consultation and analysis that must be completed before
the Secretary of the Interior may approve a new 5-year program. The
required steps following this notice include the development of a
proposed program, a proposed final program, and Secretarial approval.
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the MMS also
will prepare an EIS for the new 5-year program.
DATES: Please submit comments and information to the MMS no later than
April 11, 2006.
Public Comment Procedure
The MMS will accept comments in one of two formats: by mail or our
Internet commenting system. Please submit your comments using only one
of these formats, and include full names and addresses. Comments
submitted by other means may not be considered. We will not consider
anonymous comments, and we will make available for inspection in their
entirety all comments submitted by organizations and businesses or by
individuals identifying themselves as representatives of organizations
and businesses.
Our practice is to make comments, including the names and home
addresses of respondents, available for public review. An individual
commenter may ask that we withhold his or her name, home address, or
both from the public record, and we will honor such a request to the
extent allowable by law. If you submit comments and wish us to withhold
such information, you must so state prominently at the beginning of
your submission.
ADDRESSES: Mail comments and information to: Renee Orr, 5-Year Program
Manager, Minerals Management Service (MS-4010), Room 3120, 381 Elden
Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170. Please label your comments and the
packaging in which they are submitted according to the subject matter.
Mark those pertaining to program preparation, ``Comments on Draft
Proposed 5-Year Program for 2007-2012,'' and mark those pertaining to
EIS preparation, ``Scoping Comments on the EIS for the 5-Year Program
for 2007-2012.'' If you submit any privileged or proprietary
information to be treated as confidential, please mark the envelope,
``Contains Confidential Information.''
Internet: The MMS will accept comments submitted to our electronic
commenting system. This system can be
[[Page 7065]]
accessed at https://www.mms.gov/5-year/2007-2012main.htm. We also will
provide access to information concerning the 5-year program and EIS,
including copies of comments we receive in response to this notice, at
the MMS Internet website (www.mms.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Renee Orr, 5-Year Program Manager, at
(703) 787-1215.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMS requests comments from states, local
governments, Native groups, tribes, the oil and gas industry, federal
agencies, environmental and other interest organizations, and all other
interested parties to assist in the preparation of a 5-year OCS oil and
gas leasing program for 2007-2012 and the applicable EIS.
The draft proposed program document may be downloaded off the MMS
website at www.mms.gov. The document also is available as part of our
electronic commenting system noted above. Hard copies will be made
available by contacting the 5-Year Program Office at 703-787-1215.
Background
Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act requires the Secretary of the
Interior to prepare and maintain a schedule of proposed OCS oil and gas
lease sales determined to ``best meet national energy needs for the 5-
year period following its approval or reapproval.'' This draft proposed
program is the first proposed schedule of OCS lease sales for the 2007-
2012 timeframe. The areas identified as proposed program areas in this
notice are ones that warrant further study and analysis based on oil
and gas resource estimates and comments received in response to the
August 24, 2005 Request for Information. Inclusion of areas in the
draft proposed lease sale schedule provides a basis for gathering
information and conducting analyses to inform policy makers whether to
include these areas for leasing consideration in the new 5-year
program. Before the new 5-year program is approved and implemented, the
MMS must accept and consider comments on the draft proposed program and
issue for public review a proposed program, a draft EIS, a proposed
final program, and a final EIS.
Summary of the Draft Proposed Program
In developing the draft proposed program for 2007-2012, the MMS
considered leasing in the areas of the OCS that are included in the
current 5-year program for 2002-2007 and additional areas off Alaska,
the Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic coast. Some of these areas are
currently withdrawn from disposition by leasing through June 30, 2012,
under section 12 of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1341) and have been
subject to annual congressional moratoria. There will be no leasing of
such areas unless the President chooses to modify the withdrawal and
Congress discontinues the annual statutory moratoria. The analyses
conducted for the proposed program may provide the information
necessary for a potential modification of the withdrawal areas. The
draft program proposes sales in offshore areas that have the highest
oil and gas resource values and highest industry interest or are off
the coasts of states that have expressed interest in learning more
about potential energy exploration off their coasts. The proposed
schedule is responsive to the recommendations of affected state and
local governments.
New Planning Area Boundaries
On January 3, 2006, the MMS published a notice in the Federal
Register announcing the setting of Federal OCS administrative
boundaries beyond state submerged lands for planning, coordination, and
administrative purposes. The Supplementary Information in the January
notice contained a section entitled ``methodology.'' Using equidistance
as a method to establish maritime boundaries, in the absence of special
circumstances or agreement to the contrary, is consistent with
customary domestic and international law and conventions. It should
also be noted that, although the three maps appended to the January 3,
2006 Notice depicted an extension of the shelf beyond the U.S.
exclusive economic zone only in the Gulf of Mexico, this did not
suggest that the United States does not have an extended shelf in other
areas. Further, the depicted limits and boundaries do not prejudice or
affect in any way United States sovereign rights or jurisdiction within
or seaward of these limits and boundaries. Some of the planning area
boundaries have been moved to correspond to the new administrative
lines. The number of planning areas has not changed; it remains at 26.
See Maps 1 and 2 for the redrawn planning areas.
Some aspects of this draft proposed plan use these administrative
boundaries. Congress has recently considered several legislative
proposals that would establish state seaward lateral boundaries for OCS
revenue sharing and other purposes. If such legislation is passed
before this plan becomes final, we would consider adjustments to the
areas offered in this 5-year plan to reflect the same boundary lines,
if appropriate.
Proposed Lease Sales for Consideration
The draft program proposes a total of 21 OCS lease sales in 7 areas
(4 areas off Alaska, 2 areas in the Gulf of Mexico, and 1 area in the
Atlantic). Maps A and B show the areas proposed for leasing. Table A
lists the location and timing of the proposed lease sales in areas that
are available for leasing consideration, i.e., not withdrawn or subject
to congressional moratoria. Table B lists the location and timing of
the proposed lease sales in areas that are withdrawn and/or subject to
moratoria.
Alaska Region
In the Alaska Region, the draft program proposes multiple lease
sales in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and North Aleutian Basin
Planning Areas, which are three areas of interest to Alaska, the MMS,
and the oil and gas industry. Multiple sales are consistent with the
Governor of Alaska's recommendations. The North Aleutian Basin Planning
Area is currently withdrawn by presidential order under section 12 of
the OCS Lands Act. In response to the August Request for Information,
the Governor of Alaska stated that ``[t]he borough governments and
regional Native corporations in the vicinity of the North Aleutian
Basin have all expressed support for including this area in the next
draft of the 2007-2012 program. During the comment period on the draft,
I hope that public and industry input will provide the Secretary and
the state with adequate information to decide whether or not to ask the
President to lift the current withdrawal and allow a sale during the
2007-2012 program.'' In order to have this opportunity, the North
Aleutian Basin is included in this proposal.
The Cook Inlet Planning Area is included on the schedule for a
``special interest sale'' as a potential source of natural gas for
local residents and businesses. This approach was first used in the
current program for 2002-2007. A special interest sale is one that may
be held on a date chosen by the Secretary, after consideration of the
comments received in response to annual calls for information.
Gulf of Mexico Region
In the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Areas, which are
the two areas of highest resource potential and interest, the draft
proposed program would continue the customary practice of scheduling
annual areawide lease sales. As a result of the reconfiguration of some
planning areas to follow the
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new administrative lines, some of the areas formerly in the Eastern and
Western Gulf Planning Areas are now part of the Central Gulf Planning
Area. As part of this draft proposed program, there are no lease sales
scheduled in the newly configured Eastern Gulf Planning Area. Under
this proposal, the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area would include a
portion of the area that was identified for Sale 181 in the 5-year
program for 1997-2002. This portion of the previous Sale 181 area is
proposed for offering in 2007. The MMS has no intention of offering for
leasing areas within 100 miles of the Florida coast that used to be
part of the Eastern Gulf Planning Area. The original Sale 181 area is
not under Presidential withdrawal and is not subject to congressional
moratorium. Subsequent annual Central Gulf sales may consider the area
to the south of the original Sale 181 area that is currently under
Presidential withdrawal and has been subject to annual congressional
moratorium, if both of those restrictions were to be lifted.
Atlantic OCS
There are four planning areas in the Atlantic OCS--North Atlantic,
Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida. The draft
proposed program proposes a ``special interest sale'' in the Mid-
Atlantic in late 2011. The area proposed for consideration is in the
Mid-Atlantic Planning Area off the coastline of Virginia. In its
response to the August Request for Information, Virginia expressed a
willingness to continue a dialogue that explores options regarding the
energy resources off its coastline. Inclusion of this area in the draft
proposed program will provide additional information to the State, the
public, industry, and other interested parties about the impacts of
exploration off this coast. This will also provide further information
to the Secretary to consider whether or not to propose a ``special
interest sale'' in the 2007-2012 program, should the President lift the
current withdrawal and should Congress discontinue the annual
moratorium. In addition, pursuant to Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act,
no sale will be proposed until all affected states have the opportunity
to comment. There have not been any lease sales in the Atlantic since
the early 1980's. At this time, there are no active leases.
Table A.--Draft Proposed Program for 2007-2012--Lease Sale Schedule for
Available Areas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sale no. Area Year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
204.......................... Western Gulf of Mexico......... 2007
205.......................... Central Gulf of Mexico 2007
(Portion).
193.......................... Chukchi Sea.................... 2007
206.......................... Central Gulf of Mexico......... 2008
207.......................... Western Gulf of Mexico......... 2008
208.......................... Central Gulf of Mexico......... 2009
209.......................... Beaufort Sea................... 2009
210.......................... Western Gulf of Mexico......... 2009
211.......................... Cook Inlet..................... 2009
212.......................... Chukchi Sea.................... 2010
213.......................... Central Gulf of Mexico......... 2010
215.......................... Western Gulf of Mexico......... 2010
216.......................... Central Gulf of Mexico......... 2011
217.......................... Beaufort Sea................... 2011
218.......................... Western Gulf of Mexico......... 2011
219.......................... Cook Inlet..................... 2011
221.......................... Chukchi Sea.................... 2012
222.......................... Central Gulf of Mexico......... 2012
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table B.--Draft Proposed Program for 2007-2012--Potential Lease Sale
Schedule for Areas Subject to Restrictions*
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sale no. Area Year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
214.......................... North Aleutian Basin........... 2010
220.......................... Mid-Atlantic................... 2011
223.......................... North Aleutian Basin........... 2012
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Lease sales would only be held if the President chooses to modify the
withdrawal in both areas and Congress discontinues the annual
statutory moratorium off the coast of Virginia.
Assurance of Fair Market Value
Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act requires receipt of fair market
value for OCS oil and gas leases and the rights they convey. The draft
proposed program provides for setting minimum bid levels by individual
lease sale based on market conditions and for continuing to use a two-
phase bid evaluation process.
Information Requested for the Draft Proposed Program
We request all interested and affected parties to comment on the
size, timing, and location of leasing and the procedures for assuring
fair market value that are proposed in the Draft Proposed 5-Year OCS
Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2007-2012. Respondents who submitted
information in response to the August 24, 2005 Federal Register notice
requesting comments on preparing the 5-year program for 2007-2012, may
wish to reference that information, as appropriate, rather than
repeating it in their comments on the draft proposed program. We also
invite comments and suggestions on how to proceed with the section 18
analysis for the next draft of the new program, the proposed program.
Section 18(g) authorizes confidential treatment of privileged or
proprietary information that is submitted. In order to protect the
confidentiality of such information, respondents should include it as
an attachment to other comments submitted and mark it appropriately. On
request the MMS will treat such information as confidential from the
time of its receipt until 5 years after approval of the new leasing
program, subject to the standards of the Freedom of Information Act.
The MMS will not treat as confidential any aggregate summaries of such
information, the names of respondents, and comments not containing such
information.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Preparation
In accordance with section 102(2)(C) of the NEPA (42 U.S.C.
4332(2)(C)), MMS intends to prepare an EIS for the OCS oil and gas 5-
year leasing program for 2007-2012 as we specified in the August 2005
notice. As part of the scoping under NEPA, this notice again solicits
information regarding issues and alternatives that should be evaluated
in the EIS. Comments submitted in response to the August notice need
not be re-submitted.
The EIS will address the potential impacts of the adoption of the
proposed 5-year program. The MMS requests respondents to focus comments
on significant environmental issues attendant to OCS oil and gas
leasing and development which should be evaluated in the EIS.
Public Scoping Meetings are planned for the EIS development.
Further information will be posted on the 5-year webpage at www.mms.gov
and other public notice. Dates and localities for all scoping meetings
are being determined. For Atlantic scoping, information can be obtained
from Norman Froomer at 703-787-1644 or via e-mail at
Norman.Froomer@mms.gov. For Alaska scoping, information can be obtained
from the Alaska OCS Region at 1-800-764-2627 or via e-mail at
akwebmaster@mms.gov. For Gulf of Mexico scoping, information can be
obtained from Dennis Chew at 504-736-2793 or via e-mail at
Dennis.Chew@mms.gov.
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We are considering possible alternatives to the proposed action,
such as offering for lease only those areas offered during the previous
5-year program, or excluding areas currently under congressional
moratoria or presidential withdrawal. We will also evaluate the No
Action alternative as required by NEPA and its implementing
regulations.
For further information about preparation of the EIS, contact:
James Bennett, Chief, Branch of Environmental Assessment at the
Minerals Management Service, 381 Elden Street, MS 4042, Herndon,
Virginia 20170, telephone (703) 787-1660.
Next Steps in the Process
The MMS plans to issue the proposed program and draft EIS in mid-
summer 2006 for a 90-day comment period. We plan to issue the proposed
final program and final EIS in winter 2007. The Secretary may approve
the new 5-year program 60 days later to go into effect as of July 1,
2007.
Dated: February 1, 2006.
R.M. Johnnie Burton,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
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